Flexible shaft.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

-A.I1.E.4\ I;.E.. FLEXIBLE SHAFT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1906.

.E Kw1 M v Mmm. Y v l UiviTEn sTATEs ALBERT LEE HALE, on iiiinnxco, n,i.i.\ois.

FLEXIBLE SHAFT.

Application filed July 18,

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marengo, in the county of McHenry and State ol' Illinois, have invented certain linproveinents in Flexible Shafts, of which the following is a specification.l y

This invention relates to certain iin )rovei'nents in flexibleshafts such as areada-pted for use for driving machines of various kinds, as for example, grooming and clipping niachines, drills and the like, the object of the invention being to provide a shaft of `this character of a' simple and inexpensive nature which shall resent the minimum of wear and frictiona loss with the maximum of durability, strength and flexibility.

rlhe invention consists, iii-part, in a flexi-Y ble shaft formed of pivotally connected links or sections, a. sheath in which the. shaft. is iiicased, and wearing parts carried on the eentral portions of the' respective links or scctions and projecting therefrom for engagement with the inner wall of said sheath.

The invention also conteni )lates certain novel features and principles o the construction, and combinations and arrangements of the several parts ofthe improved flexible shaft, whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, cheaper and otherwise bett-er adapted and more convenient foruse, all as wil be hereinafter fully set forth. l

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate my improvements- Figure l is an elevation, drawn to a small scale and showing a flexible shaft embodying my improvements; Fig: 2 viss/an eiarged sectional view taken through the shaft at the driven end thereof, and showing certain features of construction to be hereinafter referred 'tog Fig. 3 is a View showing the contour of one of the blanks from which the links or sections of the improved shaft are constructed; Fig. 4

' isa transverse section taken through one of the links o'r sections in the plane indicated by the dotted line rt--ay in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview showing, detached, one of the anti-friction sleeves with which the links` or sections of the improved 4shaft are provided,

tached,` one of the coupling parts or mem bers which are interposed betweenr and pivj Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.`

1906. Serial No. 326,665.

otallv connected with adjacent links oi' sections ol' the improved shaft. l

ln these views l have shown the improved flexible shaft connected with a source of power in the l'orni olI a rigid shaft l, mounted to turn in zi bearing .2 within ar sleeve 3, but l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the employment ol' these parts as shown., since they form no part of the present Iinvention and it will be'obvious that the iniproved flexible shaft may as well be emplo ved in connection with other driving devices. n .l

indicates the. flexible shaft-as a whole,

oneendolI which has "connection with: the

rigid shaft at the end ofthe sleeve orcasing 3 thereof, and @represent-sia flexible housing or sheath in which the flexible shaft is incased and which serves not alone to protect the ineased shaft; but also to protect lthe per sons and clothing of attendants from damage 'due to being caught by the shaft links or sections or by the escape of lubricant such as is coninionly used freely upon shafts ol' this general character.

The sheath or housing 6 of the flexible shaft is formed in two parts or members, an inner part or member 10, made in the forni of a coiled metal stri p or wire, inside of which thc flexible shaft 5 is adaptedto freely turn and an outer partor member 11, made in tubular form from some material which is as nearly oil-proof as possible, the said outer tubular part or member 11 being arranged to t snuglyover the inner metallic sheath member 10.

The coils or spiral turns of the inner sheath member 10 are yspaced slightly apart from each other as seen in Fig. 2, to -permit the required lengthening and slwrtening of the sides of the sheath 6 to compensate for fleX- ure of the. incased flexible shaft, and one end of the sheath or housing is connected with a coupling sleeve 4, screwed upon the end portion of lthe sleeve 3, within which the rigid shaft l turns. The end of the flexible sheath .or hoiising 6 is adapted. for turning movel inent with relation to thel sleeve. 4, being priovided at its end with a head or enlargement 5" mounted to turn in a screw-cap 4** screwed on sleeve 4 and engaged outside the annular shoulder formed by said head or enlarge'-k i ing 'lhe arrangementof the flexible sheath oit-..Il

nicht 5 upon the end of the sheatliuor houshousing with its head or enlargement a-held to turn axially within the cap 4a, permits a tool or other device carried on the driving end ofthe flexible shaft to be swung completely around in a circular path without danger of twisting the sheath or housing, so that the device is adapted for much more convenient use than is the case Where. such sheath or housing is held against such turning movement at its connection with the coupling sleeve.

end of the. device aV socket-piece 6, with I which the flexible sheath or housing has roinner coiled metal ic sheath member 10 is protative :connection in a similar way and whereon is adapted to be carried a brush or other tool for o. erative connection with that nd of the-flexible shaft 5within the sheath or housing. g

.The metal stri or wire from which the duced is also given, by preference, a circular or rounded form 1n cross section, so that there yshall' be no sharp edges .between which the outer sheath member 1 1 may be cau ht when the sheath or housing is flexed, Wherey it will be seen that the members of the sheath or housing areadapted for free movement over each other at all` times and the outer tubular member 11 is protected against being cut or worn by contactwith such sharp edges of the coiled Wire or strip. n

The flexible shaft 5 is formed from a plurality of links or sections 7, 7, each of which has a cylindrical tubular central portion 8 and is formed from' a blank 9 of the contour shown in Fig. 3, the blanks 9 for the links or sections being cut or otherwise .produced from flat sheet 'metal or other suitable material of suitable -strengthAand having, along opposite sides, corresponding straight edge surfaces 14, 14, which are' adapted, when the blanks arebent or worked into cylindrical tubular form, in the manufacture of the links or sections 7, 7, to meet flush against'each other and produce a joint extended length-` wise along one side of each linkl` as clearly shown in Fig` 4.

' The blanks 9, are also formed at opposite ends, with two sets of alined Aintegral lugs or arms 15, 15, the arms or lugs of each set being so spaced apart as to stand diametrically. opposite each other in the finished link or section produced by bendingor working the blank into rounded form, and said arms 'or lugs 15 are perforated for the passage of pivot ,pins or studs 17, integrally produced Foriconnection with such a tool or other dev1ce, there'1s provided upon the free pivotally con- 17, integrally formed upon it, the studs or pins of one set or pair being arranged at opposite points midway between the studs or pins of the other pair or set. In connecting a link or section 7 to a coupling part or nie1nber 16, the arms or lugs 15, 15, at one end of the link or section 7 are first. sufliciently spread a art to receive opposite pins or studs 17, 17 o the coupling member in their perforations, and when said pins or studs are engaged in said perforations, the arms or lugs l5, 15 are bent' or pressed towards each other so as to eectively `hold the link or section to the coupling member. The next link or section of the shaft has its arms 15 pivotally connected in a similar way with the other pairor set of pins or studs 17, 17, of said coupling member 16, the arms 15 of the lastmentioned link or section 7 being thus arranged midway between those of the first' mentioned link, so that the link/swr sections will pivot upon 'said coupling member 16 upon axes at right angles to each other to produce a universal joint yor connection between each two adjacent links or sections 7, 7, permitting flexure of the improved shaft in various directions for accommodating convenient use of the tool or other device carried upon the shaft.

Upon each link or section 7 of the improved shaft is held'ian anti-friction bushing or wearing sleeve 20, preferably formedof a tubular piece of, compressed :liber or other suitable material held upon the central cylindrical body portion lof the link or section by means of a pin 19 passed through openings 18, 18, at diametrica ly opposite points in the central tubular portion 8 of the link or section, and .these wearing parts or bushings are adapted,

by contact of their peripheral surfaces with l the inner coiled metal member 10 of the sheath or housing 6, to prevent contact of the arms 15 of the links or sections 'with said sheath when the shaft is flexed, so as to lessen the strain and wear of the arms and sheath as much as possible. The bushings or sleeves 20, together with the. )ins 19, also serve to strengthen the finishe links or sections of the shaft and to prevent opening of the joints between the meeting edges 14, 14,`of the blanks from which said links or sections are formed and thereby also to prevent disengagement of the arms or lugs 15from the studs or pins 17, 17 of the coupling members.

M To reinforce the sheath or housing at `the point where it is connected with the sleeve 4 on the rigid sheath or casing 3, I provide on the outer side of said flexible sheath a wire coil 12, the spiral turns of which are gradually opened or spread apart as seen at 12a so that a graduated resistance to ilexure is afforded at this point and increased strength and durabilityare afforded. I have ascertained that Where vthe flexible sheath or housing 6 unproyidedwith such a reinforce, at

its point of connection With a rigid part, the

strains imposed upon said sheath or housing m flexure of the mcased shaftareso great as to quickly damage and break the sheath,

The fieXible-shaft isc'ompletely housed and incased b v its flexible sheath 6 so'that there is nol liability of the shaft catching in the clothing or on the person of the operator and the structure of said shaft is such that sufficient strength and durability is vimparted'v thereto Without in any way interfering with the i'iexure or sweep of the shaft required in machines in connection Vwith 'which theshaf'ts are designed for use.

of lubricant, itis evident that the employment of the outer sheath-niember lil is of considerable 'advantage in preventing 'the waste ofthe lubr1cant and soiling of clothing the walls of the iiexible sheath, said bushings or sleeves serve to limit the flexure of the shaft within desirable boundsand ire'vent kinking thereofand also'to prevent the arms 15 at the ends of the links from engaging too forciblyl upon the inner coiled Wire member 10 ol' the sheath or housing. These bushings or sleeves do not, however, interfere. in any Way with the necessary or desirable fleXure of the shaft, which is sufficient for all practical purioses.

i The links or sections of the improved shaft being formed or bent up from blanks cut from sheet metal, )ermit of being manufactured at very sniail expense compared with the expense attendant on the manufacture of links or sections of other constructions, so

lthat the `improved flexibleshaft is of an extremely simple and-strong nature and at the same time v is comparativel \r inexpensive. 'l`hisspecial structure of the links or sections is also of advantage since it permits of more readily connecting the links with the coupling members, .it being possible to make connection between these parts in the bending of the blanks into cylindrical. form, so that accidental breakage or weakening of the arms l5 is prevented.

From the above description it will be seen that the improved flexible shaft is of a comparatively simple and inexpensive nat-ure, and is especiallv Well adapted for use since it al'ords a maximum of strength and'general efficiency with a minimum of weer and frictionul loss, and it will also be obvious from Also, since shafts of I this character commonly require the free usethe above description that the device is capable of .con'siderableinodication Without material departure from they principles and s pirit 'of the invention, and for' this 'reason I o not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to` the precise form and arrangement.

of the several partsof the improved flexible 'shaft herein set forth in carrying out my. in-

vention in ractice.

Having t 'us described my invention, what entiis-" f l. A' flexible shaft formed of pivotally oo nl'claimandgdesire to secureby Letters Pat- .n-ected links or sections, a sheath in Which the shaft is incased and'we'aring 4parts at the central parts of the respectivelinks or sectionsand arranged to turn in unison 'therewith and projecting fromI said links or sections' for engagement with theinner Wall of said sheath,

f' 2,. A flexible shaft formed of pivotally connected links or s ectionseachmade in cylindrical form at its central part, a sheath in which the shaft is incased, and Wearing arts arranged to'turn in unison with the lin' or sections and projecting in annular form from the central parts ofthe links or sections for engagement, vvith the inner Wall of said sheath.

3. A flexible shaft formed of pivotally conv,nected links or sections each made in cylindrical form" at its centrahpart, a sheath in which the shaft is incased, and Wearing parts.

formed. from'sectionsf.` -f ber tubing on the central parts of the links or sections, and secured to turn in unison therewithand proj ecting in annular form from the central portions of the links or sections for engagement upon the Walls of said sheath.

4. The combination -of a flexible shaft having driving` means, a sheath inclosin said shaft, means, located at the 'driven en of theshaft for supporting the sheath', and a reinforce at the' supported end of the shaft ami formed of a coiled metal strip arranged outside the sheath and having the spaces between its coils gradually increased at one end, whereby'said coils at that end of the reinforce are caused to stand at gradually increasing distances impart, measured lengthwise of the, shaft.

- ln testimony whereof l have' hereunto signed my name at Chicago,'J Illinois, this V)6th-day of July 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT LEE HALE.

'itnessest J. D. CAPLiNonn, W. l". Moonn.

los

All 

